Rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks gave his mother plenty to cheer about, though, smashing a solo home run over the Green Monster in the third inning. He also had an RBI single and finished the day 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

"I only got to talk my mom for a second before the game, she was too busy for me," Middlebrooks said after Sunday's 12-1 win over the Indians. "She texted me and said, 'Nice shot.' I'll have to give her a call now."

Outfielder Daniel Nava also planned to call his mom after Boston's third straight victory. He was unable to contact her before the game, but made up for it with a pair of doubles, an RBI and three runs.

"I'm going to give her a call in a little bit," Nava said. "Unfortunately my phone died, it won't even turn on. So I need to go buy a new one and then I'm going to call her."

Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia got in on the action, too, driving in five runs and blasting a two-run homer in the seventh inning.